Anchors - Genuine Bruce vs Bruce-type vs Spade . .

[webcraft]

There's a price differential of up to 400% between genuine Bruce anchors and copies of the same weight.

Is there any reason for buying a genuine Bruce?

And . . . is the Spade better, and if so, who sells it in the UK and does it fit on a normal bow roller?

- Nick

BlueMoment.Com
http://www.bluemoment.com

 

[peterk]

hi Blue,

The price diference IS amazing.
I used an original Bruce on a delivery, not trying conditions,
have nothing negative to say about it.

For the trip Cal to S.Chile on my 22-footer I bought a Bruce copy called
The
Claw
at West Marine - 16.5 lbs-7.5 kilos - for 67 US$
and liked enough to keep it for my 34-footer .-
To my amazement
this little anchor
once held 7-ton(loaded) Tehani in 50 knot gusts anchored in sand/mud.
I did have my 35 lbs Danforth Hi tensile hurricane hook down,
but with the line slack.
I don't know/have not tried any other Bruce copies,
don't know the Spade.
I'm interested in the topic-follow-up.

...peter, www.juprowa.com/kittel

 

[philip_stevens]

There was an advert in this months PBO (at the start of all the adverts, at the end of all the articles (does that make sense??)), but my copy is on the boat at the moment. The address for the Spade was in Jersey - and I am thinking of getting one if it fits on my bow roller as well as the CQR.

There did not appear to be a website or email addy, only a phone number.

regards,
Philip

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Anchors - Genuine Bruce vs Bruce-type vs Spade

I once had a CQR lookalike break (at the swivel) under no real strain at all. I know it's not the same anchor as the Bruce or Brucealike, but it does make me wonder about off-brand kit.

 

[charles_reed]

General consensus appears to be that the Bruce, weight for weight, does not give as good a holding as many other stockless anchors, but has the great advantage of re-setting fast and being (almost) effective in weed.
Spade anchor (and its variants) are very popular in the Med, especially with the Germans. It's supposed to be good in thin sand on rock, but utterly useless in weed.
With any lookalike, you're down to the method and QA of manufacture - like the CQR a genuine Bruce is forged (and thus is about x3 the strength of a malleable casting).
It all depends if you want to risk the unknown or carry out your own (possibly destructive) tests.
I've got a CQR lookalike (So'wester), a Delta and a Danforth. If you regularly resharpen and re regalvanise the CQR it's as good an all-round anchor as you can find with considerably greater holding power in soft sand/mud than the Bruce, whose lack of fluke area shows up. The spade should also be good under those conditions - tho' I have no first-hand knowledge.

 

[Sinbad1]

I understand that the Spade anchor is made in Tunisia (by a frenchman) and distributed via agents in Europe.

 

[JerryHawkins]

Spade anchor details

You can find out about the Spade anchor at:

http://www.spade-anchor.com

I've ordered one from our nearest agent, which is in Jersey. £229 for the S80 model which is 15Kg and rated for boats up to 35' or 4.5T displ.

Cheers,

Jerry

 

[Chris_Robb]

Charles - you mention resharpening. Does the CQR need regular resharpening of the point to be effective at digging in quickley?

 

[Guest]

Looking around at the local and overseas cruising yachts here in Eastern Australia, the Bruce (mostly the genuine article and mainly on US boats) seem to be giving the plough anchors some competion for popularity. I have been cruising using the Bruce with great success but thought it was on the small side for my boat according to the Bruce reccomendations ( this anchor was the main anchor which was on board when we bought the boat). I bought a Delta as it is cheaper than a CQR, has less moving parts and Simpson Lawrence claim greater holding power size for size. This is important as I don't have a winch. It seems to hold well when it digs in but seems very picky about how it is deployed, it has to be laid out carefully, not just dumped over the bow. I'm going to try a swivel on it this year to see if that helps. I would be concerned about the quality of some look a likes, there is a plough which is popular here made by Manson in NZ. Haven't heard any bad reports about them and they are much cheaper than a CQR.

Cheers

Ian>

 

[PaulJ]

FWIW I have noticed that many of the Bruce lookalikes have a very blunt "cutting (digging?) edge" whereas the genuine article is quite sharp.......

 

[MedMan]

Hmm! I have used a genuine Bruce for the last 20 years, the last 5 of those in the Med. I am not sure about your 'general consensus' and would take issue with you in both directions!

I bought a Bruce in the first place because all the tests I read at the time showed that weight for weight it gives better holding than most other stockless anchors, particularly if pulled above the vertical. It also has a much larger fluke area than a CQR of comparable weight, not less. However, because of its large fluke area it is poor in weed - worse than a CQR - as it cannot cut through.

An important additional factor for me was that the Bruce stows very well on my bow roller, wrapping around the stem and 'locking on' absolutely rigidly. I can thus use it as a step when climbing on over the bow - very important in the Med.

I have a 20kg Bruce on 60 metres of 10mm (3/8) chain - both over the top for my boat (a Trident Voyager 35) but very reassuring. I have sat out many a gale with this tackle and been well pleased with it. Of the 2000 plus nights that I have layed to it I have never once dragged when the bottom has been sand or mud. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for weedy bottoms which are its greatest weakness.

If I could have stowed one on my bow roller I would have gone for a Delta. They have many of the benefits of a Bruce but are much more pointed and therefore better in weed. Unfortunately they have a double-cranked shank which makes stowage tricky.

To answer the original question: I would not buy a copy. There are many things on which I would (and do) cut corners, but buying an anchor is not one of them. If you want to sleep at night you need 100% faith in your hook!

 

[VMALLOWS]

Charles,
I'm also interested in your comment on resharpening a CQR since never heard this before and really can't see that my (genuine CQR) has changed at all in 20 years....apart from looking a bit rusty. Neither can I see any good reason for re-galvanizing, other than cosmetic?

Generally I find the CQR exceellent in mud or soft sand, but a pain in hard sand/shingle (especially last week in the achorage ouside Yarmouth!. I suspect the Danforth would have been better, but single handed changing anchors is not really on........so high-tailed it!).

 

[ccscott49]

Now, as I'm in the med and have already suffered the weed problem, I'm in the market for a meddy anchor. The one I have right now is a 112lb Halls pattern, sometimes called admiralty, but not like a fishermans. I need to get an anchor to replace this one, it rests in a central hawse pipe, (no problems with stowage really, as I have a big stainless plate wrapped around the bow) connected to 160 feet of 5/8" chain, any advise on this will be gatefully received, I'm edging towards a 80lb danforth (sharpened) or a 100lb spade or delta. The halls is fine in sand/mud etc, but no use in weed. I also have two 65lb cqr's, but they are not much use in weed either.

 

[Twister_Ken]

New Invention

There was a student around a month or so back, asking our ideas for a new nautical invention. How about an anchor with a built-in strimmer for weedy anchorages?

 

[Guest]

I bought an alloy Space for my Sadler 34. It was so difficult to make set that, after dragging through several hard sand anchorage I sold it an bought a Delta... No problems since.

Andrew

 

[ccscott49]

Re: New Invention

Now wouldn't that be a winner! I'd buy one for sure!